Track equipment.



l. G. MUELLER.

TRACK EQUlPIllENT. APPLICATION man my 22.1916.

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

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J. G. MUELLER. TRACK EQUIPMENT. APPLICATIQN FILED JULY 22. |916-Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

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JOHN G. MUELLER, or DAYTON, OHIO.

TRACK EQUIPMENT.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jo iiv (3i. hilnnmnn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Track Equipment, of which the following is aspecification, reference being bad therein to the ac conipanyingdrawing.

My invention relates to track equipment.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a rail brace toprevent the separating of the rails, the rocking of the rails, turningof the rails, side strain thereon and split switches.

Another object is to eliminate the necessity for the present railroadtie by providing a combined brace and bed plate of the character hereindescribed as a substitute therefor.

A further object is to provide a rail brace and tie which are simple inconstruction, durable in wear and easily assembled or disassembled bythose unskilled in mechanics, for use on either temporary or permanenttrackstdetour tracks or main line railways, curves or switches.

Another object is to provide. a rail brace and tie adjustable to varyinggages of railwa j V a invention can be either laid directly on thegrounder embedded in a block of cement, wood, etc.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevationtransversely of the rails showing the application of my inventionthereto; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my bed plate Fig. 3 is a detailview showing the movable jaw adapted to cooperate with the fixed jaws ofthe bed plate; Fig. 1 is a. sectional elevation transversely of therails showing a slightly modified form of my invention in which the bedplates are shown attached to blocks; Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofsuch bed plate; and Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a further modifiedform of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have there shown a pair of spaced apartbed plates 1 adapted to be located at each side of the track. Each ofthe bed plates is provided with a pair of fixed clamping jaws 2 locatedat the corners thereof. These jaws are provided with recesses 3 adaptedto engage and support the outer sides of the base flanges 4 of the rails5. The inner portions of these Specificationcf Batent.

portion of the opening.

Patented Sept. 3, 191%.

Application filed July 22, 1916. Serial No. 110,639,.

flanges are supported and engaged by means of cooperating movableclamping members 6 provided with recesses 7 engaging such portions ofthe flanges 4:. The clamping members or jaws 6 are slidably oradjustably mounted upon the bed plates 1 and for this purpose each bedplate is provided with an elongated central opening 8 having an enlargedportion 9 at one end and elongated reduced edges 10 adjacent thereto.Each clamping member is provided with a downwardly extending tongue 11provided with outwardly extending keys or lugs 12. The lugs 12 are ofsuch size that they may be inserted through the enlarged opening 9 ofthe bed plate while the tongue or projection 11 may be inserted throughthe elongated A sliding movement inwardly of the clamping member willcause the lugs to extend beneath the edges 10 whereby a bayonet lockingengagement is assured which will prevent the removal of the clampingjaws 6. When the jaws are in the position'shown in Fig. 1 the lugs 12will be in such position that they project beneath the edges 10,preventing the removal thereof.

Each pair of bed plates is connected by a suitable rail brace and forthis purpose they are provided with central lugs 13 having openings 14;and in a like manner each of the movable locking jaws 6 is provided withan opening 15 in alinement with the opening 1 1 of its plate. A bracerod 16 extends from one bed'plate to the other transversely of the trackwith its ends projecting through the openings 14 and 15 of the bedplates. The ends of the rod are provided with suitable nuts 17 whichretain it in position. A spacer or tube 18 encircles the portion of therod between the clamping members or jaws 6 and retains the latter inclose clamping engagement with the rails. A nut 17 can be adjusted toinsure better clamping effect. l/Vhen it is desired to vary the gage orthe distance between the rails tubes similar to 18 may be inserted whichare of various lengths and the nut 17 can again be adjusted to draw theparts together.

In Figs. a and 5 I have shown a slightly modified form in which the bedplates 1 are provided with downwardly extending prongs or lugs 19embedded in blocks 20 of cement. wood or any other suitable material.These prongs may be formed by casting the same upon the bed plates or bystriking out portions of the bed plate itself. In other respects thegeneral arrangement shown in Figs. 4: and 5 is the same as in Figs. 1, 2and 3.

In Fig. 6 which illustrates a modified form of the clamping device thebase plate is shown as comprising two sections 21 and 22 provided withcooperating clamping members or jaws and 24:. These jaws are providedwith transversely extending openings 25 and adapted to receive a bracerod 27 which is removably and adjustably mounted within the openings andheld in place by means of a nut 28. In order to retain the clampingmembers or jaws for each rail in spaced apart relation I have provided atubular spacer 29 of the character described above. The sections 21 and22 are adjustable toward and away from each other in order to cause thejaws 23 and 24 to prop erly engage the flange of the rail and for thispurpose the adjacent edges are provided with screw-threaded recesses 30and 31. Adapted to operate within these recesses is a screw memberhaving its ends provided with right and left hand screw threadscooperating with the recesses 30 and 31. By rotating the member 32 thesections of the plate may be moved toward and away from each other.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention andseveral modifications thereof it will be understood that the same hasbeen chosen for the purposes of illustration only, and that I do notdesire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described,for obvious modifications will occur toa person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my. invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a track equipment, a pair of bed plates each provided with fixedand movable clamping jaws, a brace rod connecting said plates andlocated between. the plates and the rails, and means for clamping thejaws to the rails and holding the plates in spaced apart relation.

2. In a track equipment, a pair of bed plates each provided with a fixedjaw and a jaw interlockedtherewith and slidable thereon, a brace rodconnecting said plates, and means for clamping the jaws to the railsCopies of this patent may be obtained for and holding the plates inspaced apart relation.

3. In a track equipment, a pair of bed plates each provided with a fixedjaw and an adjustable jaw interlocked therewith, apertured portions uponthe upper surface of the plates, apertured portions upon said adjustablejaw, a brace rod threaded through said apertured portions, and means forclamping the jaws to the rails and holding the-plates in spaced relationapart.

a. In a bed plate, a pair of clamping jaws fixed to the upper sidethereof, a central lug provided with an opening adapted to receive abrace, and a clamping jaw adjustably mounted upon said bed plate.

5. In a track equipment, a pair of bed plates each provided with a fixedclamping jaw and a portion provided with an'aperture, an adjustable jawcooperating with each fixed jaw and interlocked with the bed platethereof, a brace rod threaded through said apertures, and means forretaining said bed plates in spaced apart relation;

6. In a track equipment, a pair of bed plates each provided with a fixedclamping portion, and alug provided with an aperture upon the uppersurface thereof, a slidable clamping jaw interlocked with each plate andprovided with apertures in alinement with said first-mentionedapertures, a brace rod threaded through said apertures, and a sleeveinterposed between said slid able clamping jaws and encircling said rod.

7. In a device of the character described, a bed plate provided with afixed clamping jaw and a portion having an opening above the plane oftheplate, an elongatedslot in said plate, a movable jaw provided with anopening above the plane of the plate, a tongue projecting into said slotand interlocked withsaid plate, a brace rod passing through saidopenings,a sleeve surrounding a portion of said rod, and means at theend of said rod for forcing the movable jaw against said sleeve.

8. In a clamping device, a base provided with fixed clamping members ateach side. a central apertured lug, {Hid a second centrally locatedclamping member provided with an aperture in alinement with the aperturein said lug.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN G. MUELLER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G.

